Vacuum cleaner nozzle



p 1965 c. T. FROMKNECHT ETAL 3,205,528

VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed Nov. 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Charles T Fromknecht 8 George H. Frost.

ATTORNEY p 1965 c. T. FROMKNECHT ETAL 3,205,528

VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed Nov. 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 Fig.6.

United States Patent 3,205,528 VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Charles T. Fromknecht, Mansfield, and George H. Frost,

Ashland, Ohio, assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, PZL, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 326,735 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-416) This invention relates, generally, to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to nozzles for vacuum cleaners.

Vacuum cleaner nozzles of the usual type do not clean well along walls and in corners. This is because they do not have adequate air suction at the edges of the nozzles. However, adequate suction can be obtained by concentrating all of the available suction at the edges of a nozzle.

An object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner nozzle which can be adjusted to concentrate its air cleaning power at desired locations, such as the edges of the nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for readily adjusting a vacuum cleaner nozzle to have either normal suction or concentrated suction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined means for holding the nozzle adjusting means in a selected position and for indicating the type of suction for which the nozzle is adjusted.

Other objects of the invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a vacuum cleaner nozzle, the face of which is generally rectangular, has a relatively large generally rectangular opening in the face for normal suction and a relatively small opening at each forward corner of the face for concentrated suction. The position of a tube for connecting the nozzle to a cleaner wand relative to air passages from the nozzle openings determines whether the suction is normal or concentrated. A projection on the connector tube cooperates with slots in the nozzle housing to retain the tube in selected positions and to indicate the type of suction for which the nozzle is adjusted.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view, in plan, of a vacuum cleaner nozzle and a portion of a connector tube embodying principal features of the invention, the tube being in position for normal suction;

FIG. 2 is a view, in rear elevation, of the nozzle and tube portion shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, in bottom plan, of the nozzle, a portion being broken away for clearness;

FIG. 4 is a view, in section, taken along the line IVIV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view, in side elevation, of a portion of the connector tube;

FIG. 6 is a view, in end elevation, of the connector tube;

FIGS. 7 and 8, are views, similar to FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively, showing the connector tube in position for concentrated suction, and

FIG. 9 is a view, in section, taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the vacuum cleaner nozzle shown therein comprises a generally rectangular body portion 10, a removable connector tube 11 and a bottom plate 12 which constitutes the bottom face of the nozzle and is removably attached to the body by screws 13. The body 10 3,205,528 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 ice may be molded from a suitable metal or a suitable plastic material.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body has an integrally formed enlarged housing portion 14 for receiving the connector tube 11. The tube 11 may be utilized to connect the nozzle to a cleaner and wand which, in turn, is connected to a suction device by a flexible hose of the usual type. The enlarged portion 14 extends to the rear of the body to provide a sealed chamber 15 for a purpose which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 12 has a relatively large, generally rectangular opening 16 therein which is the opening for normal air suction through the nozzle. The bottom plate 12 also has a relatively small opening 17 at each forward corner of the plate. The openings 17 are for concentrated air suction through the nozzle. The body 10 has integrally formed partitions 18, 19 and 20 which provide a passage 21 from the normal suction opening 16 and a pair of passages 22 from the concentrated suction openings 17, only one of the passages 22 being shown. Sealing gaskets 23 are provided on the edges of the partition members 18, 19 and 20 between the bottom plate 12 and the partition members. A similar gasket 24 is provided around the outer rim of the body 10 between the bottom plate 12 and the body. A brush 25 may be mounted in the body if desired. The bristles of the brush 25 extend through an opening 26 in the bottom plate 12.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connector tube 11 has an opening 27 in one end thereof and an opening 28 in one side of the tube at a predetermined distance from the end of the tube. The tube 11 also has an integrally formed or stamped projection 29 on the side of the tube opposite the opening 28 and located between the opening 28 and the end of the tube having the opening 27. As previously explained, the other end of the tube 11 may be connected to a cleaner wand (not shown).

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 4, the enlarged housing portion 14 of the body 19 has a plurality of spaced ribs 31, 32 and 33 disposed between partitions 19 and 20 of the body. Slots 34, 35, 36 and 37 are provided between the ribs and the partition members. As shown in FIG. 4, the ribs 31, 32 and 33 do not extend the full depth of the housing 14, thereby providing a space 38 between the lower ends of the ribs and the bottom of the housing. A groove 39 extends to the rear of the housing 14 from the partition 20.

In order to adjust the nozzle to obtain either normal suction or concentrated suction, as desired, the position of the connector tube 11 relative to the air passages 21 and 22, which communicate with the openings 16 and 17, respectively, is changed in the housing portion 14 of the body 10. The tube 11 is rotatably disposed in the housing 14 and it may be moved longitudinally in the housing. When the tube 11 is in the position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 with the projection 29 disposed in the slot 36 between the ribs 32 and 33 the tube communicates with the air passage 21 for the opening 16 which, as explained hereinbefore, provides normal suction through the nozzle. As shown by the arrows, the end of the tube 11 communicates with the air passage 21 to permit air to enter the tube through the opening 27 in the end of the tube. The opening 28 in the side of the tube is disposed in the chamber 15 which is sealed to prevent air from entering the tube through the opening 28.

In order to adjust the nozzle for concentrated air suction, the tube 11 is changed to the position shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The position of the tube is changed by first rotating the tube through an angle of approxibelow theends of the ribs in the housing 14 and then moving the tube longitudinally until the projection 29 is between the rib 31 and the partition 19 of the housing after which the tube is rotated to place the projection'29 in the front slot 34. When the tube is in this position the front end of the tube is'compres'sed against a gasket 41 on the partitionlS of the housing, thereby preventing air from entering the tube'through theopening 27.

Asshown in FIGS. 8 'and 9,'the opening 28 in the tube 11 communicates withthe air passage 22'to permit air to be drawn through the openings 17 in the bottom face plate 12. Since the openings '17'are small in size compared with the opening 16, concentrated suction is obtained through these openings, 1

Furthermore,- the" openings 17 are located at the forward corners of the nozzle where they are most effective in cleaning along walls and in corners. Thus,the type of suction obtained is determined by-the position ofthe tube ll which communicates with the different air'passages from the normal suction opening 16 and the concentrated suction openings 17.. If the tube 11 is moved to a position in which the projection 29 is in the slot '35 between the ribs 31 and 32, the air flow obtained is a compromise between normal suction and concentrated suction since the tube will communicate with both air passages 21 and 22. j v

The tube 11 may be removed from the housing 14 by rotating the tube to place the projections 29in the space 38, moving the tube longitudinally until the projection 29 engages the partition 20, then rotatingthe tube to place the projection 29 in the slot 37 and then Withdrawing the 1 tube with the projection 29 passing through the groove 39. The tube may be inserted in the housing by reversing the foregoing operation.

In order that the projection 29 will function as an indicator to indicate the type of suction for whichvthe nozzle is adjusted, markings or labels are provided on the top of the nozzle adjacent to the slots in thetop of the housing portion 14 of the nozzle. The projection'29 is visible from above the nozzle through the slots in the housing. Thus, the operator can tell the type of suction for which the nozzle is adjusted by observing the position of the projection 29. in'the slots. In this manner, the projection 29 cooperates with the housing to retain the opening in the side of the tube for communicating with the 'concentratedsuction openings'through another selected air passage means, said tube being rotatable and movable longitudinally in said body, said nozzle including means-responsive to such movement to establish communication selectively between the interior of said tube and said first or said another air passage means.

2. In a nozzle fora vacuum cleaner having a suction device, in combination, a body having a generally elongated face, a relatively large generally central opening in the face'for normalsuction, a relatively small opening at each end of the face for concentrated suction, first and second air passage means in said body from said openings, 'a connector tube for connecting the nozzle to the suction deviceQsaid connector tube having air'admission means for communicating with the normal suction opening :through said first air passage means, said air admis sion means-being further adapted to communicate with the concentrated suction openings through said second air passage means, said tube being rotatable and movable longitudinally in said body, said nozzle including means responsive to such movement to establish communication selectively between the interior of said tube and said first 'or'said second air passage means.

' 3. In a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner having a suction device, in combination; a body having a generally rec- I tangular face, a relatively large generally rectangular Opening in the face for normal suction, a relatively small opening at each forward corner of the face for concentrated suction, separate air passage means in said body from said openings, a connectortube for connecting the nozzle to the suction device, said tube having a first opening for communicating with the normal suction opening through a selected air passage means, said tube having a second opening for communicating with the concentrated suctions openings through another selected airpassage means, said tube being rotatable and movable longitudinally in said body, said nozzle including means responsive to such movement to establish communicaconnector tube in position in the housing to obtainflthe desired suction and also to indicate the type of suction for which the nozzle is adjusted. I

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the invention provides for adjusting a vacuum cleaner nozzle in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner having a suction device, in combination, a body having a generally rectangular face, a relatively, large generally rectangular opening in the face for normal suction, a relatively small opening at each forward corner of the face for concena trated suction, separate air passage means in said body from said openings, a connector tube for connecting the nozzle to the suction device, said tube having an opening in one end for communicating with the normal suction opening through a first selected air passage means, an

tion selectively between the interiorvof said tube and one or the otherof the air' passage means.

4. A nozzle for a .vacuum cleaner having a suction device, said nozzle comprising a body having a relatively large opening therein for normal suction and a relatively small opening for concentrated suction, separate air passages in said=b0dy;from said openings, a plurality of spaced ribs with slots therebetween depending from one Wall of said body and. extendingapproximately half the distance between said one, wall and an opposite wall thereby providing a space between the free ends of the ribs and the opposite wall, a connector tube for connecting the nozzle to the suction device, a projection on said tube, said tubebeing rotatable in said body for positioning said projection in said space whereby said tube is movable longitudinally in said body for selecting the desired suction'opening, said projection being adapted upon rotation" out or said space to cooperate with said ribs to retain said tube in communication with the selected open- V References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,140,462 5/15 Johnson.

"l,860,854 5/32, -Engberg et al. 15-416 2,048,273 7/36 Ljungquist 15-416 2,131,548 9/38 Barrner, 2,219,802 10/40 Bjorkman 15-418 2,274,560 2/42 Ott 15-416 2,348,861 5/44 Smelliea; 15-377 X 2,620,506 12/52 Weiland 15-411 X 2,824,334 2/58 Laningham 15-416 X WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A NOZZLE FOR A VACUUM CLEANER HAVING A SUCTION DEVICE, IN COMBINATION, A BODY HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FACE, A RELATIVELY LARGE GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OPENING IN THE FACE FOR NORMAL SUCTION, A RELATIVELY SMALL OPENING AT EACH FORWARD CORNER OF THE FACE FOR CONCENTRATED SUCTION, SEPARATE AIR PASSAGE MEANS IN SAID BODY FROM SAID OPENINGS, A CONNECTOR TUBE FOR CONNECTING THE NOZZLE TO THE SUCTION DEVICE, SAID TUBE HAVING AN OPENING IN ONE END FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE NORMAL SUCTION OPENING THROUGH A FIRST SELECTED AIR PASSAGE MEANS, AN OPENING IN THE SIDE OF THE TUBE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE CONCENTRATED SUCTION OPENINGS THROUGH ANOTHER SELECTED AIR PASSAGE MEANS, SAID TUBE BEING ROTATABLE AND MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID BODY, SAID NOZZLE INCLUDING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SUCH MOVEMENT TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION SELECTIVELY BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBE AND SAID FIRST OR SAID ANOTHER AIR PASSAGE MEANS. 